gee-dom



A. H. GERDOM.

I Patent BOTTOM BAR FOR No. 316,771. ed Apr. 28,1886.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

ANDREW H. salmon, or ALBANY, NEW YORK, Assieuoa or" ONE-HALF TO DAVID STRASSER, or SAME PLAcn.

a BOTTOM BAR FOR WINDOW-SHADES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 316,771, dated April 28, 1885. I

1 Application filed August 20, 1884. (No model.)

T0 ctZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ANDREW H. Gannon, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Al'- bany, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottom Bars for indow-Shades, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Previous to my present invention it has been usual to attach bottom bars to window-shades by means of hooks, rings, and the like passing through the lower edge of the shade at various points and engaging with a slot or similar provision in the body of the bar. The entire strain of pulling down the shade is consequently exerted at these points, and after a short period the fastenings are drawn through the shade-fabric and the bar torn off. It is the object of my invention to obviate these difficulties by a simpler and improved con struction; and to that end it consists in providing the bar with two longitudinal clampingsurfaces extending throughout its entire length and adapted to grasp firmly the lower edge of the shade across its whole width, thereby distributing the pullingstrai n equally and evenly upon it.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, illustrative of my invention, and to the designating letters marked thereon, Figure 1 represents in front elevation my invention as applied to an ordinary window-shade. Fig. 2 represents in detail perspective, partially broken away, the main or central clamping portion thereof. Fig. 3 is a like view illustrating the disposition of the edge of the shade within such clamping portion. Figs. 4 and 5 represent in front elevation a portion of myirnproved bar, showing modified forms of the end caps. Fig. 6 represents in detail perspective a modification of the central clamping portion of my improved bar.

It is contemplated insoine instances to form the clamping-surfaces for the shade-bottom in other ways than that illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. Thus, as in Fig. 6, the blank from which the central portion of the bar is made may be caused to overlap, as shown, forming thereby parallel clamping-surfaces between which the curtain edge may be secured with the aid of the end caps.

In the several figures like letters indicate like parts.

A represents a window-shade of the ordinary kind, to which is attached my improved bottom bar. The latter consists of a central portion, B, preferably of brass or spring metal and rolled or worked from a plain blank into the configuration shown, being provided with the internally-projecting parallel flanges O D, extending throughout its entire length. Upon its under side it is perforated or punctured, as at F G,for the reception of one or more loops, as shown, adapted to act as means of attachment for a like number of tassels or pendants.

H H represent two end caps of like meohan-- ical structure but different ornamental design, adapted to be forced over the ends of the main bar (which are preferably slightly beveled or tapering for that purpose) in such manner as to force the flanges or lips O D toward each other, thereby clam ping between them the lower edge of the curtain. The tapering referred to is too slight to be represented upon the drawings,and

indeed is not essential to the operativeness of the device, as it is evident in view of the compressible character of the ends of the middle portion, 13, that such ends may be forced together by the hand until the caps are inserted, which will thereupon retain them in the clamped position.

In order to insert the curtain it is crimped or folded to form a false hem and pushed endwise between the flanges or lips G D, occupying the position shown in Fig. 3.

The main bar is made slightly longer than the width of the shade, in order that the caps may be slipped on. The caps are held in place by frictional contact with the sides of the main bar and by its tendencyto expansion.

It is evident that by the use of my invention the strain upon the shade is distributed across its entire width evenly, thereby insuring the greatest durability and uniformity of wear. The bar, moreover, is readily removable, should it at any time become desirable to do so for the purpose of cleaning, repairing, or storing the shades.

It is apparent that any desired form of ornamentation or quality of material appropriate to the auses of my invention may be" em ployed for its various parts without departing from its general spirit. I do not therefore restrict myself to those illustrated in my drawings and described herein, but include any such obvious variations thereof as maybe suggested by individual taste.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

A bottom bar for window-shades, consisting of a central metallic shell having parallel clamping portions and of substantially uniform external curvature throughout its whole GX- tent, in combination with end caps hollowed vout cylindrically and of smaller; internal diameter than the external diameter of the shell before compression, whereby duringthe clamping operation the said end caps are held in position wholly by the tendency of the shell to expand and are at the same time readily removable, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. ANDREW H. GERDOM. Witnesses:

NATHANIEL NILEs, JACOB M. FALK. 

